New transport technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, are increasingly discussed in the debate on the transition to a sustainable urban future. Automated vehicles (AVs) are expected to reduce the value of travel time (VoT), allowing the use of time for other types of activities during travel, including working, reading, sleeping, entertainment, etc. Our study aims to provide empirical insights on future modal choice preferences for regular trips for Romanian citizens, using a sample of 309 respondents to a web survey on issues related to automated vehicles. Using multinomial logistic models (MNL), we analysed the relationship between three mode choices: regular car, private automated vehicle, and shared automated vehicle, along with the individual and household characteristics. In addition, we calculated the VoT for each mode choice based on the results of MNL analysis. Results showed that VoT is strongly influenced by travel cost and travel time, by socio-economic characteristics such as age, gender, and education, and has the lowest value for the shared AV compared with a regular car or a private AV. Future research may conduct comparable studies in European countries but also explore the opinions and perceptions of vulnerable road users on AVs and VoT.

The deployment of automated vehicles (AVs) has the potential to disrupt and fundamentally transform urban transportation. As their implementation becomes imminent on cities’ streets, it is of great concern that no comprehensive strategies have been formulated to effectively manage and mitigate their potential negative impacts, particularly with respect to the components of the do no significant harm (DNSH) framework recently introduced in the EU taxonomy. The methodology employed comprises three steps: (i) An extensive literature review on the impact of AVs on the DNSH components; (ii) exploration of designing a coherent pro-active vision by integrating measures identified in the literature as key elements to mitigate the harm; and (iii) an interdisciplinary focus group (FG) to verify whether the impacts of AVs and potential mitigation measures for Bucharest are similar to those identified by the literature and integrated into the pro-active vision. The results suggest that while there are commonalities, variations exist in focus and perspective, underscoring the necessity of examining the mitigation measures encompassed in the vision through additional focus groups conducted in different cities.

The present paper aims to be useful for public transport operators and municipalities, as it should enable them to make decisions and to optimize public transport schedules during peak hours. In this study, we outline the data and the means necessary for the creation and use of a specific database for a dynamic spatial analysis of the public transportation network. This will facilitate the analysis of public transport vehicle operating programs and the simulation of new transport programs using open-source software. This paper delivers the first digital map of the public transport in Bucharest. Using the QGIS software and the PostgresSQL database, (i) we analyzed the accessibility of public transport stops for residential areas (5-min isochrones, corresponding to walking distances of 400 m), and (ii) we determined the correlation of transport vehicle programs with the existing transport network to optimize the headway of vehicles. These two elements were considered for the analysis of public transport performance. The research study was based on the tram network in Bucharest, but it can be easily upscaled for the entire public transport network and may be replicated in other large cities.

This paper is an initial exploratory study that provides recommendations for the sustainable development of future automated and connected transport (ACT) systems in Romania. To achieve this, our paper investigates the different factors that influence mobility behaviour related to ACT systems through two different themes. The first part analyses (i) the strategic framework that is relevant to future ACT deployment and (ii) the spatial development patterns of large cities in Romania that might influence future mobility behaviour based on ACT systems. We presumed, and the study confirmed, that there is currently a poor focus on ACT systems in strategic documents and that the current spatial patterns show some premises for unsustainable mobility behaviour based on ACT systems. The second part describes the results of our analysis on the WISE-ACT survey deployed in Romania. We explored how informed Romanian citizens are about AVs; whether they are ready to use them; and what perceptions, concerns, and attitudes might influence their mobility behaviour when using ACT systems. The present analysis mainly shows that the perceptions of Romanian citizens are widely similar to those of citizens from other countries and that, for Romania, the orientation towards unsustainable forms of individual travel is maintained in terms of the future use of AVs. The recommendations that are presented here primarily address the spatial and attitudinal factors that have been identified as prerequisites for unsustainable future mobility behaviour linked to ACT systems.

Integrating autonomous vehicles (AVs) into urban areas poses challenges for transportation, infrastructure, building, environment, society, and policy. This paper goes beyond the technical intricacies of AVs and takes a holistic, interdisciplinary approach by considering the implications for urban design and transportation infrastructure. Using a complex methodology encompassing various software types such as Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO 1.17.0) and STREETMIX, the article explores the results of a simulation that anticipates the implementation of AVs through different market penetration scenarios. We investigate how AVs could enhance the efficiency of transportation networks, reducing congestion and potentially increasing the throughput. However, we also acknowledge the dynamic nature of the scenarios, as new mobility patterns emerge in response to this technological shift. Furthermore, we propose innovative urban design approaches that could harness the full potential of AVs, fostering the development of sustainable and resilient cities. By exploring these design strategies, we hope to provide valuable guidance for urban planners and policymakers as they navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the integration of these advanced technologies.

Background Different forms of participation have been employed to engage citizens in the planning of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Arguments in favor of citizen participation highlight the limitations of traditional democratic practices to address climate change. Climate Assemblies (CAs), a form of deliberative democracy, have become an increasingly popular way for citizens and politicians to collaborate on climate decision-making. Research Questions Using a mixed methods approach, this paper poses three questions. (1) To what extent do European cities and regions engage in CAs, and how are they embedded in policymaking? (2) What drives and impedes CAs? (3) To what extent are policymakers in European cities and regions ready and able to incorporate CAs and their results into policies? Results Findings reveal an increase in CAs in Europe on different levels, primarily commissioned by public authorities. However, the connection between CAs and policymaking differs across countries. Research revealed the significance of political culture, the specific roles of citizens, policymakers and administration therein, and the importance of political backing of CAs. Important drivers of CAs include measures that safeguard relevance to citizens, equality, inclusive access, and impact. Barriers include knowledge about climate change and deliberative democracy, lacking inclusiveness of CAs and asymmetry in political power. Survey data shows that climate policies have become established practices in many European cities and regions and that various engagement approaches are used to develop them. However, only 9.4% of respondents stated that city officials developed climate change policies with stakeholder input, including citizens. Citizen participation is infrequent, and involvement in policy development and implementation is unequally distributed, favoring some groups over others. While some results of stakeholder and citizen engagement activities were adopted, recommendations were not always translated into policies. Conclusions Currently, CAs are rather an exception than the norm across Europe.